Refuse compactor and bag therefor

ABSTRACT

A refuse receiver in a refuse compactor comprising a receptacle having an open top bounded by peripheral edge portions, a refuse holding bag in the receptacle having a double cuff formed by a pair of successive outward folds of the edge of the bag with opposite edge portions of the bag each having a single slit that facilitates folding of the bag sides in the pair of successive outward folds to form the double cuff and with the single slits facilitating the folding without excessive danger of refuse spillage through the bag sides at the slits during removal of a filled bag from the compactor. A refuse holding disposable bag having this construction for positioning in a refuse receptacle having an open top in which refuse is compacted.

[151 3,667,381 51 'June6, 1972 United States Patent Bottas et al.

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Primary Examiner--Billy J. Wilhite Attorney-James S. Nettleton, Thomas E. Turcotte, Burton H. Baker, Gene A. Heth, Franklin C. Harter, Anthony Niewyk, Robert L. Judd and Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc- Cord [73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

[21] Appl.No.: 874,251

ABSTRACT w u o m b on M i 3 mm 0mm mp o e blel m P m w o c dr .mmm m D." u nna ew .wo ve n c i c m [80 mmh uae d m r d AC... M $22 I. v 12 w 8 6 M 6 A0 92 5 0. "2 "15 .l n "9 n 2 m m m M N m4 mmmN mmm d SLd UIF 1]] 2 00 555 [ll formed by a pair of successive outward folds of the edge of the bag with opposite edge portions of the bag each having a sin- References cued gle slit that facilitates folding of the bag sides in the pair of successive outward folds to form the double cuff and with the sinn- STATES PATENTS gle slits facilitating the folding without excessive danger of Y refuse spillage through the bag sides at the slits during removal 220/65 of a filled bag from the compactor. A refuse holding disposa- PP ble bag having this construction for positioning in a refuse 312/274 receptacle having an open top in which refuse is compacted.

8 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures 2,247,232 6/1941 Goldberg............................L. 3,438,321 4/1969 Gladwin.........

REFUSE COMPACTOR AND BAG THEREFOR In the copending application of I-Iinkel et a1. Ser. No. 724,959, filed Apr. 29, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,390 which issued Nov. 3, 1970, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, there is disclosed and claimed a refuse compactor comprising a cabinet having a lower portion containing an open topped drawer adapted to be lined with a disposable bag in which refuse is placed for compacting and an upper portion containing a compacting ram with the cabinet also including a motor drive mechanism for the compacting ram.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved disposable bag construction in which the bag is constructed so as to be easily foldable at the top in a double cuff arranged at the outer surface of the top edge of the drawer when the bag is in position, the bag having a single slit in each of two opposite sides to facilitate the folding of the bag edge into the double cuff but reducing the danger of refuse spillage through the portions of the bag containing the two slits.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

' FIG. 1 is a series of perspective views ranging from -A to D illustrating successive steps in opening a bag up and folding the top edge into the double cuff.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a refuse compactor with the refuse receiving drawer fully extended and with a bag embodying the invention in position therein to receive refuse.

FIG. 3 is a central vertical sectional view through the drawer and bag of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a filled refuse bag folded and sealed for disposal.

As shown in FIG. 2 the refuse compactor 10 comprises a cabinet 11 having in the bottom thereof a drawer 12 that is moved to open position as shown in FIG. 2 by means of a handle 13. When in this position the drawer which is lined with a refuse holding disposable bag 14 is in position to receive refuse which is then compacted once the drawer 12 is moved to closed position and the compacting mechanism (not shown) energized.

The refuse receptacle or drawer 12, as illustrated, has an open top bounded by peripheral edge portions 15, a pair of which 16 are located opposite to each other. This pair of edge portions 16 in FIG. 2 is the one at the extreme inner end of the drawer 12 as shown and the one immediately behind the front panel 17 of thedrawer.

. The bag 14 has a body portion 18 insertable into the drawer 12 as shown and sides 19 of a height to extend above the peripheral edge portions 15. The bag has a pair of opposite sides 20 and 21 that are located in the same relative position as the edge portions 16 of the drawer 12. In the illustrated embodiment both the drawer 12 and the bag 14 are of rectangular horizontal section when the bag is inserted in the drawer with the rectangle having a pair of opposite short sides which are the sides containing the edge portions 16 of the drawer and the sides 20 and 21 of the fully open bag.

In each of the pair of opposite sides of the bag which are'the short sides 20 and 21 in the illustrated embodiment there is located a single slit 22 extending downwardly from the top edge 23 of the bag with each slit being located substantially midway of its bag side 20 or 21.

The single slit 22 in each bag side 20 and 21 permits folding the top portion of the bag 14 in a pair of successive outward folds a first one of which is illustrated at 25 in C of FIG. 1. This provides a double fold cuff 26 on the outer top edge of the bag and when the bag is shaped to its rectangular form as shown in D of FIG. 1 it can then beplaced inside the drawer 12 in position to receive refuse.

In order to retain the bag in position the opposite long sides of the drawer 12 are provided with clips 27 which releasably clamp opposite sides of the cuff 26 between the clips 27 and the peripheral edge portions 15 of the drawer 12.

The provision of a single slit 22 only in each of two opposite bag sides 20 and 21 facilitates the folding of the sides in a pair of successive outward folds to provide the double cuff as described. In addition, however, the limiting of the slits to a single slit only in each of the pair of opposite sides permits this folding and also reduces the danger of refuse spillage through the bag sides at the slits when the bag has been filled to the desired level with compacted refuse and then sealed to make a disposable package as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4 the filled bag 14 after being removed from the drawer 12 is unfolded at the cuff 26 to provide the overlying closures 28 which can then be sealed as by the tape 29.

It is believed obvious from the above description that the provision of the single slit 22 in each of two opposite sides 20 and 21 only is sufficient to permit the folding illustrated in FIG. 1 to form the double cuff 26 and the unfolding in the final sealing operation illustrated in FIG. 4 without excessive danger of spillage of contained refuse during removal of the filled bag from the drawer and the subsequent sealing and folding. 1

Having described out invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a refuse compactor, a refuse receiver comprising: a refuse receptacle having an open top bounded by peripheral edge portions a pair of which are located opposite to each other and clamp means disposed exteriorly of the receptacle below said open top; and a refuse holding bag having a body portion insertable in said refuse receptacle, bag sides of a height to extend above said receptacle peripheral edge portions when said sides are fully upwardly extended with the bag installed in the refuse receptacle, and a top edge, a pair of said sides being located at said pair of edge portions, and means forming a single slit in the upper end of each of said pair of sides and extending downwardly from said top edge to adjacent said top of the refuse receptacle when the bag is in the refuse receptacle, said pair of oppositely located single slits facilitating folding of said sides above said edge portions in a pair of successive outward folds to provide a turned-down double cuff encircling said receptacle edge portions about the outer surfaces thereof releasably clamped by said clamp means for holding the bag in a refuse receiving upwardly opening position in the receptacle and a continuous uppermost portion overlying said receptacle top, said single slits facilitating refolding to close the top of the bag when filled with compacted refuse without excessive danger of refuse spillage through the bagsides at said slits, said slit sides being folded inwardly prior to inward folding of the other pair of bag sides in the refolded closed arrangement of the bag.

2. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein each said slit is located about midway of its bag side.

3. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is substantially rectangular in horizontal section at said peripheral edge portions, said pair' of edge portions being shorter than the remaining pair, and said bag when inserted in said receptacle being similarly rectangular with the pair of slits being located at said pair of shorter sides.

4. The refuse compactor of claim 3 wherein each said slit is located about midway of its bag side.

5. In a refuse compactor, a refuse receiver comprising: a refuse receptacle having an open top bounded by peripheral edge portions a pair of which are located opposite to each other and clamp means disposed exteriorly of the receptacle below said open top; a refuse holding bag having a body portion insertable in said refuse receptacle, bag sides of a height to extend above said receptacle peripheral edge portions when said sides are fully upwardly extended with the bag installed in the refuse receptacle, and a top edge, a pair of said sides being located at said pair of edge portions, and means forming a single slit in the upper end of each of said pair of sides and extending downwardly from said top edge to adjacent said top of the refuse receptacle when the bag is in the refuse receptacle, said pair of oppositely located single slits facilitating folding of said sides above said edge portions in a pair of successive outward folds to provide a turned-down double cuff encircling said receptacle edge portions about the outer surfaces thereof releaseably clamped by said clamp means for holding the bag in a refuse receiving upwardly opening position in the receptacle and a continuous uppermost portion overlying said receptacle top, said single slits facilitating refolding to close the top of the bag when filled with compacted refuse without excessive danger of refuse spillage through the bag sides at said slits.

6. The refuse compactor of claim 5 wherein said releasable means comprises a plurality of spaced clamp means releasably engaging said bag cuff.

7. The refuse compactor of claim 6 wherein a pair of said clamp means is provided located opposite each other and ondrawer, and said clamp means comprises a pair of clips on said drawer at the opposite long sides of said rectangle. 

1. In a refuse compactor, a refuse receiver comprising: a refuse receptacle having an open top bounded by peripheral edge portions a pair of which are located opposite to each other and clamp means disposed exteriorly of the receptacle below said open top; and a refuse holding bag having a body portion insertable in said refuse receptacle, bag sides of a height to extend above said receptacle peripheral edge portions when said sides are fully upwardly extended with the bag installed in the refuse receptacle, and a top edge, a pair of said sides being located at said pair of edge portions, and means forming a single slit in the upper end of each of said pair of sides and extending downwardly from said top edge to adjacent said top of the Refuse receptacle when the bag is in the refuse receptacle, said pair of oppositely located single slits facilitating folding of said sides above said edge portions in a pair of successive outward folds to provide a turned-down double cuff encircling said receptacle edge portions about the outer surfaces thereof releasably clamped by said clamp means for holding the bag in a refuse receiving upwardly opening position in the receptacle and a continuous uppermost portion overlying said receptacle top, said single slits facilitating refolding to close the top of the bag when filled with compacted refuse without excessive danger of refuse spillage through the bag sides at said slits, said slit sides being folded inwardly prior to inward folding of the other pair of bag sides in the refolded closed arrangement of the bag.
 2. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein each said slit is located about midway of its bag side.
 3. The refuse compactor of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is substantially rectangular in horizontal section at said peripheral edge portions, said pair of edge portions being shorter than the remaining pair, and said bag when inserted in said receptacle being similarly rectangular with the pair of slits being located at said pair of shorter sides.
 4. The refuse compactor of claim 3 wherein each said slit is located about midway of its bag side.
 5. In a refuse compactor, a refuse receiver comprising: a refuse receptacle having an open top bounded by peripheral edge portions a pair of which are located opposite to each other and clamp means disposed exteriorly of the receptacle below said open top; a refuse holding bag having a body portion insertable in said refuse receptacle, bag sides of a height to extend above said receptacle peripheral edge portions when said sides are fully upwardly extended with the bag installed in the refuse receptacle, and a top edge, a pair of said sides being located at said pair of edge portions, and means forming a single slit in the upper end of each of said pair of sides and extending downwardly from said top edge to adjacent said top of the refuse receptacle when the bag is in the refuse receptacle, said pair of oppositely located single slits facilitating folding of said sides above said edge portions in a pair of successive outward folds to provide a turned-down double cuff encircling said receptacle edge portions about the outer surfaces thereof releaseably clamped by said clamp means for holding the bag in a refuse receiving upwardly opening position in the receptacle and a continuous uppermost portion overlying said receptacle top, said single slits facilitating refolding to close the top of the bag when filled with compacted refuse without excessive danger of refuse spillage through the bag sides at said slits.
 6. The refuse compactor of claim 5 wherein said releasable means comprises a plurality of spaced clamp means releasably engaging said bag cuff.
 7. The refuse compactor of claim 6 wherein a pair of said clamp means is provided located opposite each other and on the sides of said receptacle.
 8. The refuse compactor of claim 7 wherein said receptacle comprises an open top drawer of rectangular horizontal cross section with a pair of opposite short sides of the rectangle at which said slits are located when the bag is in position in the drawer, and said clamp means comprises a pair of clips on said drawer at the opposite long sides of said rectangle. 